National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1887-06-16
FEMALE EDUCATION.
ADDRESS OF HON. SAMUEL +. MILLER
ON THAT SUBJECT.
Commencement OF Norwood Institute
for Young Ladies-Progress Made In
Course of Instruction-Hlgh Char
acter of the School Testified To.

The following address was delivered by
Justice Samuel f. Miller, Of the United
States Supreme Court, before the Norwood
Institute for young ladies on the 10th inst;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: We have to-
night met upon one OF those occasions that
occur In the course Of human life, and
which, when they como, always touch the
heart and interest the mind. They are, In
deed, not rare, and yet, like the birth, the
marriage, and the death Of q human being,
are events In which all are interested, and
their influence upon the misery or happi-
mess OF those who pass through them calls
out the sympathy OF all who have partaken
or expect to undergo the same important
experiences.
Shakespeare has pictured the progress Of
the human being from the pulling babe In It's
nurses arms to the lean and slippered PAN
taloon Of extreme old age, and has divided
the period embraced In this history into seven
stages, which have become familiar, by rea-
con Of the vivid accuracy of their portrait
ure, to every person who reads the English
language. That great writer, however,
confines himself In this remarkable passage
to the male half OF the human race, and only
alludes to the better half by describing the
child, In the earliest stage, as borne In the
arms OF the nurse.
1t is rather remarkable that no female
genius has attempted to give a similar en-
blematical representation OF the progress
Of her sex from the cradle 10 the grave. l
am very sure that 1t is not for want OF
capacity to do II, nor because the subject
could not be made as interesting as that OF
the other sex. Perhaps the suggestion may
stimulate some one to attempt the half OF
the story left untold by Shakespeare.
We are met here to witness the closing
exercises Of q years. instruction In the Nor
wood Institute for young ladies. We who
are older have the memories OF our younger
days and of similar scenes revived by these
pleasant surroundings and the presence Of
the classes which constitute the pupils Of
this institution. We are especially inter
ested IN the young ladies who have just re-
ceived their diplomas-the certified evil
dence OF their scholarship and attachments,
OF their good conduct and behavior during
the period since their entrance here, cover
ing some four or five years, and of the COM
mendation which they have won from the
teachers TO whom they were conflded.
This event is one In which the pupils In
the junior classes are anticipating with
great interest the time when they shall take
part In the same performance. 1t is one
siderable extent, the minds and hearts Of
all who enter this school, from their earliest
days OF tutelage up to their gradual
ton. Not that l would attach undue i'm
portance TO the mere fact OF graduation.
The main purpose to be attained by attend
ance at school is to have the mind Guilt
waited and informed; and II by any accident
or mischance the student is not able to go
through the course and graduate In this
formal manner, yet the principal benefits
OF the SCHOOL may be reached, although
perhaps In an inferior degree, II the pupil
has been industrious and attentive. Never
theless, as q browning honor, and as an evil
depce that the school days have been well
spent, that the mind has been improved
and the heart and feelings cultivated, the
diploma is thing to be sought after and
| priced when obtained.
This being exclusively an institute for the
instruction OF young ladies, 1t is an occa-
| sion that naturally presents to the mind
| the question, now much agltated, Of the
| desirability of the higher development of
the education Of woman. / do not pro
pose at this time to engage In any discus
| sion as to the relative capacity OF the two
sexes for the highest intellectual advance
ment. / do not think that any good comes
from such discussion In such place as
this, and doubt very much whether 1t has
been SO conducted In the public press and
other places as to have been very useful In
any other sense than this, that 1t has re-
suited in the removal Of the impression
that there is natural inferlority on the
part Of the female.
| 1t would be idle now to consume time In
an attempt to prove that in many of the
faculties Of the human mind the female
has native advantages over the other sex.
In quickness Of apprehension, in vivid i'm
agination, In rapid insight into the affec-
lions Of the heart, In the capacity for cul.
tivating the graces, and the appreciation
Of beauty in art and nature, woman gen
orally, though not In every individual case
is endowed by nature beyond what we have
been accustomed to call the stronger sex
It seems probable, also, that In regard tC
the faculty for the use of language, thai
great distinguishing feature between the
human race and all other living beings, hel
capabilities are quite equal to those Of
| men; and In the more doubtful field of Thu
mathematical and mechanical sciences Il
remains for future observation to determin,
whether there is any difference.
I,have said so much upon this subject q
| foundation for an argument In favor OF {
higher education Of woman. All teach
Ing is mainly valuable for the trainin!
which 1t gives for the pursuits and occupa
tlons of after-life, and in my Judgment tn
perfection of any system of instruction |
10 be found in the methods which bes
teach the young how to most proftabl
use their time, and furnish them mos
thoroughly with the ability to fulfill tn
duties and obligations which the futur
may devolve upon them. 1t may be, an
probably Is, true that in the present syster
this purpose is more fully attained In tn
education of men than In that of womer
higher grades of female institutions @
learning calculated to fit the young woma
for future position Of usefulness In lii,
like the teaching OF the colleges in apple
mathematics, astronomy, civil engineering
and the laws and uses Of mechanical forces
or In the special schools of medical an
legal science, such as the departments
law and medicine afford, which are pai
of every university.
But this does not argue against the pre-
priety and value of such education 1
female colleges as would fit the student
there for the future pursuits Of life, whic
they may be required to or which the
ought to engage In. 1t 10 every day becou
ing more evident that to fit woman fo
the. position which. she now. occupies |
| social life requires the most through Gu
ture, the most accomplished manners, an
the brightest and best informed intellect
g Her school education should be Of the fri
order.
Nor do propose now to say anythin
about the CO. education Of the sexes In TIL
same schools, but am very. clear that
would debar no woman, on accour
simply of her sex, from the enjoyment {
ieges and Institutions. At the same tim,
while the sentiments and tastes Of the con
munity remain, as they largely are, in fave
Of the separate education Of the sexes |
the higher schools, We must look with th
deeper interestto the character Of the II
struction which the female schools an
colleges afford. In this respect there is n
question but that they have grown In valu,
as well as improved In the manner In whic
they are conducted, and In the proflcienc
Of the instruction which they impart.
A Young lady Can now attain degree {
excellence In the dead languages In tn
Norwood Institute and doubt not
many otherfemale- schools, equal to thu
given In the higher grades OF institution
II A. -